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New equipment improves quality and quantity at Oyen research farm
BY REBECCA HANNAM Western Grains Research Foundation
A new line of plot equipment has made a world of difference for the Chinook Applied Research Association (CARA) in Oyen, Alberta. Crop researchers now have more capacity to study and present innovative and profitable practices to local farmers and ranchers.
CARA received a $267,000 investment from the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) Capacity Initiative, which made it possible for a plot combine, tractor, pickup truck, GPS unit, cargo trailer and a mower tractor to be purchased.
“The equipment has improved the overall efficiency and quality of our small plot adaptive research trials,” says CARA manager and forage agronomist Dianne Westerlund. “The equipment funding also freed up some budget so we have the flexibility to add more technicians and take on more trials.”
The CARA team has recently grown by 1.5 field technicians and two to three summer technicians. The volume of plot work has increased by 25 per cent in the last five years, which West-
erlund says is largely due to having newer equipment.
The combine allows researchers to harvest a greater quantity of trials in a timely manner. Dedicating the new tractor to seeding equipment and using the previously owned tractor exclusively for spraying has also improved operational efficiency.
Braeden Peers, CARA crop agronomist, says the truck and trailer have also played a role in improving efficiency as both equipment and people can be moved twice as fast as in the past.
For Peers, having modern research equipment is directly related to collecting better quality data for the agricultural community.
“A lot of the equipment that we were running was
getting to be out of date and worn out so I think it was necessary to get newer research equipment in the area,” he says. “When farmers are rotating out their equipment every five to 10 years and CARA isn’t, our data becomes a lot less relevant.”
Westerlund adds that the equipment upgrades have boosted the confidence among the researcher team because they are collecting and analyzing higher quality data.
She explains that the purpose of the association is to research agricultural technologies and adapt them to the unique growing conditions presented by a semi-arid area with problem soils.
“We take varieties and ag-
ronomic practices that have been developed in a research situation and evaluate them in the conditions of east central Alberta, and then adapt the technology so that it adds value to local producers.”
The current CARA program is focused on variety trials in cereals, pulses and forages as well as private industry product trials related to soil health. The team shares data through extension activities such as tours, field days and newsletters.
CARA is a producer-directed society dedicated to expanding agricultural research activity in the Special Areas and MD of Acadia. For more information, visit chinookappliedresearch.ca or find CARA on Facebook or Twitter.
The WGRF is a farmer-funded and farmer-directed non-profit organization investing in agricultural research that benefits western Canadian producers. To date, more than $229 million has been invested to support diverse crop research projects.
The WGRF has committed $32 million to the Accelerating Capacity Initiative to expand crop research capacity.
Online fun with Ohtani free-agent saga
BY BRUCE PENTON
Twitter, or X, as owner Elon Musk has renamed it, can be wonderful, or it can be an annoyance. A plethora of crap is displayed on the social media site, but there’s also a lot of valuable information that can be fulfilling. Or useless.
BY BRUCE PENTON Sports Columnist
But X really came to life a couple of weeks before Christmas, before Shohei Ohtani had made his decision where to sign his free-agent contract, and when the hottest rumour in baseball had Ohtani perhaps inking a pact with the Toronto Blue Jays, sports fans in Canada couldn’t get enough from Twitter.
Someone in California on that day, Dec. 8, spotted an aviation note from the John Wayne Airport in Anaheim, whereby a private jet was taking off, destined for Toronto. That’s all it took for the Ohtani-to-theBlue Jays hype to surge into overdrive.
Hookah Doncic tried to put water on the rumour fire, saying: “He lives in Seattle in the off-season.”
Talkin Baseball weighed in: “Shohei Ohtani is travelling to Toronto today. He has not signed a contract with any team at this time, per @jonmorosi.”
Said Ben Verlander: “The plane from Anaheim to Toronto is currently the most tracked airplane in the world. And not a single soul tracking it has any idea if it’s Shohei or not.”
Alden Gonzales had a submission: “Source: Shohei Ohtani has not made a decision yet. That’s not to say it won’t ultimately be the Blue Jays; my understanding is that, at this point, that decision has not been made.”
Said Matt: “We all know where he’s going to end up,” as he posted a picture of Ohtani in a Rays’ uniform.
Said John: “He’s going to the Cubs. I talked to him the other day.”
Now it was Etherfuse’s turn: “He’s just trying to decide which Dodger hat he likes the best.”
Some humour from Mike Petriello: “A direct flight from LA- to London is about to arrive, indicating Ohtani is about to sign with Arsenal.”
More humour, from Joseph Garino: “Source: Shohei Ohtani will be making his decision at Four Seasons Landscaping later today.”
Clarence Fraser added fuel: “Yusei Kikuchi (Jays’ Japanese pitcher) reserves entire upscale sushi restaurant near Rogers Centre for tonight. Reservation for 50-plus people. Make of it what you will.”
Countered Spencer: “That was a surprise party for his wife. Thanks a lot.”
And then Vancouver humourist Steve Burgess did what he does best; “When out in right field there arose such a clatter; I ran to home base to see what was the matter; When what to my wondering eyes did appear; But Shohei Ohtani in full Blue Jays gear!”
Of course, we now know Ohtani signed a 10-year contract the next day with the Dodgers for $700 million US (almost $1 billion Canadian) and Twitter will be quieter from here on in. (The plane, by the way, was carrying Canadian millionaire Robert Herjavec, a regular on the TV show, Shark Tank.)
The plane from Anaheim to Toronto is currently the
the world. And not a single soul tracking it has any idea
• Jack Finarelli on a TV commercial where es cans of Bud Light to patrons throughout the bar: “Can you imagine the clean-up mess in that bar as about 50 people open cans of Bud Light that have been thrown to them that they caught — presum ably on the fly? stale beer for a month after that event.”
• Late night funnyman the public feud with NFL quarterback gers they were both in his first name.”
• Jason Gay triots’ coach “Belichick looked tain, grimacing on the New England sideline like he’s miles from shore in a storm.”
• Mike Bianchi for Jacksonville Jaguars fans to come to the realiza tion that Jon Kitna
• Another one from Bianchi, on Michigan coach Harbaugh believe Harbaugh and his coaching staff are inno cent, you probably also believe there are a bunch of crime fighting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles liv ing in the sewers beneath New York City.”
• Headline at fark.com: “NCAA president: ‘ecause we told you Michigan was cheating, that means that they won fair and square.’”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “While watching team USA win the World Junior Hockey championship at a friend’s, nobody noticed his Labrador eating the Christmas tree trimmings. Now the vet says the dog has tinselitis.”
• Headline at the onion.com: “Bob Kraft: We’re Already Searching Through Insane Asylums For A Possible Belichick Replacement”
• Headline at fark.com, after New England owner Robert Kraft promoted linebackers’ coach Jerold Mayo to head coach, replacing Bill Belichick: “Kraft holds the Mayo.”
• Bob Molinaro of pilotonline.com (Hampton, Va.): “While cranky, conspiracy-minded Aaron Rodgers should be fit for a tinfoil helmet, his Jets teammates voted him their ‘most inspirational player for 2023.’ Rodgers, you may recall, was on the field for four plays. We’re not expected to understand.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
Viva Vitality: New Year, New Goals
BY LISA DOYLE
As we step into 2024, it is the perfect moment to envision and set meaningful New Year’s resolutions. Have you ever found yourself setting ambitious goals only to see them lose momentum or fade into oblivion? If you are nodding in agreement, rest assured you are not alone in that experience. When goals are simply unrealistic and unattainable, it is easy to get sidetracked and discouraged and find yourself back at square one. Instead, consider adopting the SMART goal approach to implement realistic goals and work towards a more achievable and sustainable path to positive change.
You might be wondering, what exactly is a SMART goal? Well, a SMART
goal is one that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Rewarding, and Timely. SMART goals can be extremely helpful when wanting to make positive improvements to your overall health and wellness. Whether you aim to establish a daily journal, drink more water, incorporate more physical activity, or even quit smoking, employing SMART goals can help you succeed.
When we are setting a SMART goal, first we want to select a goal that is important and meaningful. Action-based goals emphasize the actions within our control rather than fixating on the outcome, significantly enhancing our likelihood of success.
As an example, consider applying the SMART goal approach to the objective of drinking more water:
S - Be Specific: Clearly define what, how, where, and who is involved in your goal. For instance, commit to drinking one glass of water with each meal for the next two weeks.
M - Be Measurable: Ensure your goal is quantifiable: how much, how many, how often. In the case of increasing water intake, state a specific amount (one cup) and frequency (with each meal).
A - Be Attainable: Choose a goal that is realistically achievable, even if starting small. Celebrate small victories to build confidence to keep going for setting more goals.
R - Be Rewarding: Select a goal that holds personal significance and feels good. For example, increasing water intake supports overall health and well-being.
T - Be Timely: Set a time for your goal, including a start date and a review/completion date. In the water example, commit to the goal for the next two weeks.
Large goals, such as running a marathon, can be overwhelming. Start with more manageable short-term objectives, like joining a weekly running group for the next month, to avoid setting unattainable targets. Celebrate your achievements and seek support from family and friends on your journey. Whatever your resolutions may be, applying a SMART goal approach can significantly enhance your chances of success this New Year. For more information, visit https:// www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/ info/nutrition/if-nfs-setting-goals-lifestyle-change.pdf
Investing in natural drought and flood protection
Watersheds are areas of land that drain rainfall and melted snow into streams, rivers and lakes. Healthy and resilient watersheds play an important role in preventing drought, reducing the risk of floods and supporting healthy communities and ecosystems.
This year, Alberta’s government is providing $3.5 million to fund eight projects in communities across the province through the Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program. These projects will help restore riverbanks and watersheds, stabilize stream banks and improve natural drainage, supporting communities affected by recent droughts and floods.
Each year, communities and local partners receive project funding through the Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program to increase the natural ability of Alberta’s watersheds to reduce the intensity, magnitude, duration and effects from flooding and droughts.
Projects receiving funding are led by stewardship organizations, non-profits, Indigenous communities and municipalities to restore critical wetland and riparian areas while promoting the ongoing stewardship and preservation of critical watersheds.
“This grant is terrific news. It enables us to provide direct support to our municipal partners and participating acreage owners, who, through their collective and collaborative efforts, will have a real impact on drought and flood mitigation, as well as enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services, and supporting watershed resiliency provincewide.”
Brian Ilnicki, executive director, Land Stewardship Centre of Canada
«This grant is fantastic news. With increasing drought prevalence and climatic pressures, these funds will help us to promote and implement best man-
agement practices to ensure the longterm sustainability and viability of our watershed.»
Alyssa Krawchuk, executive director, Lakeland Agricultural Research Association
“ALUS is grateful to the Government of Alberta for their support through the Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program. This generous funding breathes life into our project, Tributaries to Resiliency: Farm-level Action and Community Connection. Through this project, agricultural producers are building ecological and economic resilience by adding natural infrastructure to the landscape and undertaking community engagement. With ALUS, Alberta’s farmers and ranchers are enhancing water quality, mitigating the effects of drought, flood and extreme heat and supporting biodiversity. Their efforts are contributing to a resilient and prosperous future for all Albertans.»
Christine Campbell, senior western hub manager, ALUS
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“Delta Waterfowl applauds the approach of funding local communities, empowering them to restore wetlands and the many benefits they provide. These grants will enable farmers and ranchers to help make the land more resilient, especially in dry times, providing long-term benefits for farm communities and society at large.”
Jim Fisher, vice president of Canadian policy, Delta Waterfowl
To date, Alberta’s government has allocated more than $46.5 million to flood and drought resilience projects through the Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program. Since 2014, this funding has supported the restoration, enhancement and conservation of 5,475 hectares of wetlands and riparian areas and 320 kilometres of streambank.
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